Excerpt from remarks made at NHSA’s Parent Conference in New Orleans on December 9, 2014:
“Saying that I am a Head Start kid is like saying I am a High School graduate or that I am currently enrolled at a university. It is a point of pride for me, an accomplishment that I am extremely proud of. The Head Start family laid the foundation of my many accomplishments.

We in Head Start definitely have evidence fatigue. I have nothing against evidence but evidence-based-this and evidence-based-that sometimes gets to be too much evidence. That is why what I have to share here is so galling, particularly because I have to concede that Bob, my husband, is right by making me aware of the evidence of just how valuable a single button can be.

Spring is a time when thousands of eager young graduates march across the stage to accept their college diplomas. But it’s also a time when those of a more mature age may feel the pangs of regret because life has gotten in the way of the pursuit of a college degree. The pressures of work, marriage, children, and a thousand other things have a way of doing that.

Thanks to the hard work of a Family Advocate and the members of a Male Involvement group she started last year, 52 children enrolled in Oswego County Head Start in Phoenix, New York were able to celebrate the raising of a new flagpole outside their center last Friday.

The Office of Head Start recently posted their OHS CLASS Reviewer Field Guide for 2014. For anyone new or unfamiliar with Head Start monitoring, the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Pre-K is an observation tool that assesses interactions between teachers and children that’s used as part of the triennial monitoring of Head Start classrooms.

Some members of the Head Start community are wary of the prospect of universal pre-K. Cynics and people outside of Head Start might think that these fears are about losing children to other settings or funding to other programs, and the emotional way we express our misgivings about universal pre-K sometimes supports that perception. But this perception couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Black History Month was officially recognized by the United States in 1976, for Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” As this month comes to a close, we take a look back at Head Start’s history and how the dedication of many in the summer of 1965 created the foundation for Head Start’s commitment to ensuring that all children, regardless of race, class or national origin have a chance to succeed.

At Cook Inlet Native Head Start where 100 percent of the children served are Alaska Native and American Indian but come from many different tribal groups with different languages and customs, the challenge has been to be culturally relevant to all the children they serve.

The Little Traverse Baby Bands Head Start Center of Michigan has a very strong relationship with the Native American Community. Native American children account for 85% of those served and most reside on a nearby reservation or in local rural areas.

Some members of the Head Start community are wary of the prospect of universal pre-K. Cynics and people outside of Head Start might think that these fears are about losing children to other settings or funding to other programs, and the emotional way we express our misgivings about universal pre-K sometimes supports that perception. But this perception couldn’t be farther from the truth.

In honor of Native American Heritage Month this November, the National Head Start Association will shine a spotlight on Native American programs, educators and alumni who are making a difference in their communities.

This Mother’s Day, as I reflect on my journey as a parent, I cannot imagine being where I am today without the truly life changing support of Head Start. In fact, as I celebrate six wonderful years of being a mother, Head Start honors a milestone of its own: this week marks the 50th Anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s creation of a federally funded preschool program that would serve the nation’s poorest children.

I first became acquainted with Head Start about 28 years ago. My son was 3 years old when he was diagnosed with severe autism. As a young parent without much family support, I struggled to make ends meet as I grappled with how to deal with what was then a condition we knew very little about. I was devastated, overwhelmed, and felt as though I had nowhere to turn— until a local Community Action office told me about the local Head Start program.

Next week marks the 50th anniversary of one of America’s most significant early childhood initiatives: Head Start. This occasion is an opportunity to reflect on the vital importance of early childhood education and reaffirm our commitment to strengthening this program for future generations.

Monday, May 18th is the 50th Anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson's announcement of the founding of the Head Start program. This week we are featuring blog posts by Head Start alumni who celebrate the role the program has played in their lives or in the lives of their children. Monday, May 18th is the 50th Anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson's announcement of the founding of the Head Start program. This week we are featuring blog posts by Head Start alumni who celebrate the role the program has played in their lives or in the lives of their children.

I want to salute Head Start teachers across the country who are opening windows of opportunity for our nation’s most vulnerable children and families. As a Head Start graduate and lifelong educator, I can speak firsthand to the incredible difference these teachers are making in their communities

“Conversations are taking place across America about how our nation can address the needs of every child during the critical early years. This is the moment we have all hoped for. It is a moment we intend to seize.”

Something I hear often from opponents of Head Start or even just people who aren’t familiar with Head Start or Early Head Start is that the programs don’t work. If you haven’t met Head Start alumni, it’s easy to take someone else’s word for it, but as part of this community I’ve always found comments about Head Start having no effect frustrating, because I see amazing results everywhere I go.

In October, 2011 the National Head Start Association premiered the “One Window of Opportunity” animation, sparking a discussion about how Head Start itself is a window of opportunity for children and families–and how critical it is to keep that window open in a time of growing poverty and need. As part of the Keep the Window Open campaign, Head Start parents, alumni, staff, volunteers and citizens have been invited to share their stories.

In October, 2011 the National Head Start Association premiered the “One Window of Opportunity” animation, sparking a discussion about how Head Start itself is a window of opportunity for children and families–and how critical it is to keep that window open in a time of growing poverty and need. As part of the Keep the Window Open campaign, Head Start parents, alumni, staff, volunteers and citizens have been invited to share their stories.

In October, 2011 the National Head Start Association premiered the “One Window of Opportunity” animation, sparking a discussion about how Head Start itself is a window of opportunity for children and families–and how critical it is to keep that window open in a time of growing poverty and need. As part of the Keep the Window Open campaign, Head Start parents, alumni, staff, volunteers and citizens have been invited to share their stories.

In October, 2011 the National Head Start Association premiered the “One Window of Opportunity” animation, sparking a discussion about how Head Start itself is a window of opportunity for children and families–and how critical it is to keep that window open in a time of growing poverty and need. As part of the Keep the Window Open campaign, Head Start parents, alumni, staff, volunteers and citizens have been invited to share their stories.

I’d like to echo comments from the previous bloggers…kudos to NHSA for starting this blog and thanks to all who work and/or have been associated with the Head Start program and the many lives they have touched. Recently, I had the opportunity to testify before the Senate to discuss the impact of Head Start on my life. Who would have ever predicted that a kid from the other side of the tracks of Joliet IL, literally and figuratively, would go on to study and graduate from the U. S. Naval Academy; become a U. S.

I too, like Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, would like to thank all of the wonderful staff working in and on behalf of every Head Start and Early Head Start program across the world, from the bus driver to the director to Senators and community leaders and everyone in between. And yes, I mean world because I know that this program or various aspects of this model, are being used globally in early child care and education settings (thanks World Forum Foundation). Can you believe it?!?!
I decided to tell you my story because it shows how “HEAD START WORKS!!!!”

I want to congratulate the National Head Start Association (NHSA) for the launch of this resourceful blog.
I would like to start off by thanking the teachers, community volunteers, health care coordinators and others who help implement the Head Start program in their communities and schools. Head Start’s success is due to the dedication and hard work that they have invested in the future of every Head Start kid.

Since I joined the National Head Start Association in 2009 I have been astonished by the breadth of voices – both within and outside the Head Start community – sharing stories, opinions, and ideas about how early childhood education can be the window of opportunity for a lifetime of success for every child. These diverse, powerful, and provocative voices need a space where they can be collected, shared and discussed. That’s why I decided to launch this blog.

This summer, NHSA’s interns - Hannah Taylor, a sophomore at NYU Abu Dhabi, and Elaine Vilorio, a junior at Amherst College - had the chance to visit Higher Horizons Head Start in Falls Church, VA, an NHSA member not far from our headquarters near Washington, D.C. Hannah and Elaine reflected on their time visiting Head Start through both the local center and their experience at NHSA.
My Head Start Internship: Looking Through the Window of Opportunity
by Hannah Taylor

NHSA is excited to be launching an important new Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Study! This study, led by NORC at the University of Chicago with guidance from the National Head Start Association and Region V Head Start Association, will inform our national understanding of parent engagement and create a tool to help local programs collect better information from parents about their experiences.

This year Head Start has been celebrating 50 years of bringing life-changing, quality early childhood education services to children and their families. I’m excited to continue the celebration on Wednesday, September 30th, at a special Head Start Spirit Rally on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C.

Head Start is giving you the chance to make a difference
Head Start has, from the beginning, empowered parents to make a difference: in their child’s life, in their family, in the future of Head Start. Right now, Head Start is seeking comments on changes to the Performance Standards, the guidelines that specify what a program must do to meet the needs of the community, and would like to hear from us, the parents.

I am proud to count myself among the 32 million children Head Start has served over the past 50 years, and we should all proudly stand up and renew our commitment to making sure all our nation’s children have hope for a brighter future.

From the beginning of the school year, I had a vision: 100% of my students would leave Room 8 kindergarten-ready. I believed that in order to see exponential growth in my class, it was of utmost importance to know my students and to have a relationship with each family.

This October, as the nation celebrates Head Start Awareness Month, I can’t help but reflect on my own Head Start experience, which truly laid the foundation for my future success in grade school, high school, college and ultimately as a successful engineer.

Each year, once a year, there’s a week that captures the attention and minds of people across the nation. It is a week of intrigue, a week of fear, a week of excitement, and a week that blurs the line between fact, fiction, and wishful thinking. No, I’m not talking about Discovery Channel’s Shark Week – I’m talking about Washington’s Budget week.

Last year the nation celebrated Head Start’s 50th anniversary— 50 years of providing quality, comprehensive early learning programs to our nation’s most vulnerable children and families. As a proud Head Start alumna, I cannot imagine where I would be today without the window of opportunity Head Start offered me.
Head Start was the one consistent, positive thing I had in my life as a child.

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who discovered the problem in Flint, and other Flint community leaders, right away suggested Head Start/Early Head Start as the necessary intervention for all the youngest children affected. The recommendation is well-grounded in the fundamental elements of the Head Start model, and I believe it can and should be scaled.

I’ve been wonderfully busy working with programs to secure Early Head Start - Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CC) Partnership monies that will create and strengthen partnerships with local child care programs. This interesting collaboration will extend the best of EHS out to the community, stretching those Federal dollars to serve as many children as possible.

Head Start is a fabulous program with its own culture, language, sense of community — and many moving parts. As a former Head Start Director, I learned a number of valuable lessons throughout the years. Here are five fundamental elements that are vital to a Head Start program’s success.

Hi everyone, my name is Evita Almassi and I am NHSA’s voice on social media. Follow along with me this week as I post daily about NHSA’s 43rd Annual National Head Start Conference on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I will also be doing daily conference recaps on our blog, like this one!

Day 1 of the conference has arrived and sessions have officially begun! Today started off at registration where people arrived in droves this morning anxiously awaiting to register so they could get started.

It’s a Wrap!
What an exciting and eventful conference we had in Nashville! It was truly a wonderful experience to have the Head Start community in one place to work together, collaborate, and innovate for the next generation of Head Start.
From the Head Start Hackathon to Opening Session to the Research and Public Policy Institutes, to celebrating Head Start’s 51st Birthday, to Paul Tough, and the Scholarships and Awards dinner, there was so much to do and learn.